On March 5, 2024, the Sister Wives world was rocked by the tragic death of 25-year-old Garrison Brown, and his mother, Janelle Brown, has a rough road ahead of her. The Brown family was first introduced to TV when the show premiered in 2010. At the time, the family consisted of the patriarch, Kody Brown, and his three wives, Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, and Christine Brown, and their 12 children. The family would later add a fourth wife, Robyn Brown, and four more children to the clan.
After almost 30 years of marriage, Janelle and Kody Brown ended their spiritual union during Sister Wives season 18, and it was a contentious divorce. Janelle was Kody’s second wife, and they share six children together, including Garrison. Since Robyn joined the Brown family and the cast of Sister Wives, the big and happy family fell apart. Christine, then Janelle, and finally Meri divorced Kody, leaving him only married to Robyn. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kody argued with his older children, especially with Garrison. In March, Garrison was found dead at his home in Flagstaff, Arizona, due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Janelle Brown Is Grieving After Garrison Brown’s Suicide
A Mother’s Love
Janelle had been worried about her son after Garrison had sent texts that sounded like he was struggling with his mental health. When she couldn’t reach him, she sent her other son, Gabriel Brown, to check on him. Gabriel was the one who found his brother’s body, and the depth of the family’s tragedy is almost unfathomable. Janelle has to mourn her son, and worse, she has to do so in public, with the whole world watching her.
“Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away.”
On March 5, moments after the news of Garrison’s tragic death broke, Janelle posted a loving family tribute to Garrison on Instagram. The caption read, “Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away.” Other members of the family posted the same message, word for word, and it’s ironically the most united the Brown family has been in many years.
Janelle Brown Has Money Problems
Financially Challenged
Before Kody drove away three of his four wives, he and Janelle were the family’s main breadwinners. They went to work while Kody’s third wife, Christine, watched their kids. With so many mouths to feed, Kody and Janelle had to work hard to earn enough to support their plural family. All of Janelle’s money went towards the Brown household, leaving her little in savings. Now that the family has fallen apart, Janelle is on her own financially. The Sister Wives star has to start all over, financially speaking, with little to show for her many years of hard work.
Janelle Brown May Have Issues With Kody
A House Divided
Though tragedies can sometimes bring families closer together, Janelle and Kody weren’t in the best place before Garrison’s death, so that’s unlikely to happen. Since Kody and Garrison were feuding at the time of his death, both sides may blame each other for the tragedy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kody and Robyn were scared of getting sick, so they enacted strict mitigation rules. When Janelle’s older children, including Garrison, couldn’t follow the rules, Kody refused to see them and ultimately stopped talking to them.
The Browns were never able to find their way back to each other.
Janelle Brown Is A Single Woman
On Her Own
While Christine remarried after leaving Kody, and Meri was briefly in a serious relationship, Janelle is still a single woman, living on her own. Janelle was a guest at Christine’s wedding and appeared on the wedding special. When asked about her future dating plans, the Sister Wives star made it clear that she had adventures in mind for the next phase of her life but that those plans didn’t necessarily include a man. Though, during difficult times like this, it would be nice to have someone by her side, supporting her.
After three decades with Kody, Janelle is probably tired of working to support a man’s dreams and desires instead of hers.
With most of her kids grown up and out of the house, Janelle was probably looking forward to being with herself for a while. After putting everyone else’s needs first for so many years, it was time for her to think about herself and her happiness. Now, Janelle will have to process the tragic, untimely death of her beloved son. In addition to having to learn to live without her boy, she will need to be there for her remaining five children, who are mourning their brother as well.
